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Month: February 2016

We’ve had our eyes on Hotel Casablanca for ten years now, and at long last we are now offering accommodation here for our activity holidays this year.

If you like the more quirky style rather then the corporate sameness of the big chains then this pick is going to be just right for you. Featuring a great interpretation of Moorish architecture and decoration, with all the modern facilities you’d expect Casablanca is not going to disappoint – and with all your activities sorted out you’re pretty well guaranteed a fabulous holiday.

Hotel Casablanca

Hotel Casablanca

Foyer

Balcony sea view

Bar

The location is also spot on – right next to the Penon del Santo where Abderraman I landed in 755 AD from Damascus, before going on to establishing the Emirate in Cordoba, ushering in 730 years of Moorish influence over the Iberian peninsular (the Arabs eventually left in 1489 after the eventual fall of Granada in 1492, at that time governed by Boabdil, to the opposing Christian forces under Ferdinand & Isabel – but more of that, if you wish, on Monday evening’s free guided wander around the old town).

A super hotel with a traditional Moorish theme and decorations, which is ideally situated next to the Penon del Santo and main San Cristóbal beach. The castle and Majuelo park are literally just around the corner jand the old town with all it’s tapas bars and restaurants is just a couple of minutes walk further on past the park.

Casablanca only gets graded as a two star, as it does not has a swimming pool, but the beach at San Cristobal is literally over the road and the decorations in the hotel more than make up for it, especially as being relatively small it is very atmospheric with its Moorish decor and intimate feel.

The hotel has WiFi internet access, restaurant, cafeteria and bar and a terrace overlooking the plaza, where at the weekends a small local craft market is held around the fountains, where locally made bargains of jewellery, ceramics, leather bags etc. can be found.

Wherever possible we try to obtain front facing rooms with balconies overlooking the plaza for our activity holiday clients, but please note these are limited and subject to availability. They are all allocated on a “first come – first served” basis – so early booking is absolutely vital (due to their popularity if you are looking for July to September then bookings should be made by end of January).

We’ve been wondering what the two plinths laid on the paseo were going to be used for. Well, the answer is two new sculptures, which have been donated to the town.

They are the creations of an Italian sculptor, Giuseppe Strano Spitu based in Zaragoza, and a local artist, Toni Quirós. Both pieces come from the continued collaboration of the Meeting Art in Almunecar initiative (MAA) and the local Town Hall or Ayuntamiento.

Impossible Balance

Giuseppe’s piece “Impossible Balance” appears to be made of several elements, and stands some 1.8m tall. The illusion is given that is made from several overlapping stones balanced on top of each other, but the work is in fact made from a single piece of stone.

Venus Esteapogia

Venus Esteatopigia”, by Toni Quirós, is again around the same height, but in the sculptors words “messes around with the concept of universal feminine beauty”. The stone for both works was kindly donated by the local well known construction company “Construcciones Carbonell”.

The dates for the main events for Carnaval this year have been announced by the town hall.

In a nut shell fasting for Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. Carnaval is the period immediately before the fasting, in which the last of the winter stocks would be consumed before they spoiled. Also, it is usually associated with a license for misbehaviour, wearing masks to mock to authority and drinking to excess.

The “Gran Fiesta” normally showcases the fancy dress acts and costumes – in previous years this has been in the town hall square but for 2016 it looks as if it will be all happening around Los Bajos on Feb 6th from 22:00 onwards, so a lively night is to be expected. A very lively night.. For a look at some of last years entries see our YouTube channel or click on Almunecar Carnaval 2015.